Can you believe it's almost the middle of November? Where has the year gone?

I've had my head down all year, working on illustration projects in my studio. When I enjoy my work, I often forget the time. I'll look up from my paintings and suddenly it's almost supper time.

Or.... suddenly it's November!

This is the beginning of the social season, and our calendar is filling up with parties, gatherings, weekends away, and the prospect of a wonderful, summery Christmas in Cape Town. While I miss Canadian snow a lot, I'm actually beginning to get used to Antipodean Christmases.

So, I'm dreaming of bougainvillea, hot sunshine, and time spent with family.

I've spent the last week reading, reading, reading. Currently, I'm reading the Diaries of Virginia Woolf. I found the entire set (several volumes) at a used book store a few weeks ago. It is compulsive reading. She writes about her creative process, insecurities, and triumphs. It's wonderful to see her world, and London, through her own eyes.

I've also been reading poetry on my ereader. To be honest, I find it difficult to concentrate on an entire novel on an ereader. I always feel like something is missing; I end up turning the ereader over wondering, "but... where is the rest of the book?" It's ridiculous. It feels like the moment when you show a mirror to a kitten, and when it sees it's own reflection, it runs around to the other side to find the other cat. I keep trying to turn real pages, or skim forwards, which can't be done!

As poems are shorter I can read a few, and then do other things in between, so I don't get exhausted by peering at the screen.